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DISCUSSION Trust between law enforcement and the people they protect and serve is essential in a democracy. While the City and PPD remains committed to the tenets of community policing, there is also very strong support to initiate a continuous and well-thought-out public engagement effort to bolster confidence and two-way communication. Underpinning these objectives will be a Council-sponsored public process that emphasizes transparency, listening, learning, and improving the way policing is performed in our community. To achieve these objectives, City staff has developed a three-point plan for consideration by the City Council, along with a timeline for completion, as follows: 1. COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION(S) Staff recommends that the City Council host a community listening session/council workshop on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. This listening session would be in lieu of the City's regularly scheduled City Council meeting, which would be rescheduled to August 4, 2020, to conduct the City's regular business. The listening session would be convened and led by the City Council and open to the public. The format of the session would be similar to a public workshop, where the City Council listens and gathers input from interested residents with no formal action taken that evening. To ensure the health and safety of meeting participants during the pandemic, the listening session/public workshop would be held virtually. No staff report or presentation would be proposed for this evening. Instead, the open- mic format would enable the community to address the Council regarding desired police reform locally, relay their direct experiences with PPD, and other related topics. The primary goal is to create an environment that welcomes feedback and difficult conversations regarding policing in Pleasanton. Other session goals could also include: • A better understanding of the systemic challenges faced by communities of color in Pleasanton, including their challenges and experiences with PPD. • Sharing the perceptions and realities of policing in Pleasanton. • Understanding community expectations and concerns when it comes to law enforcement in Pleasanton, including in the areas of mental health crisis response, use of force policies, and the training and development of personnel, to name a few. • Identifying critical community resources for vulnerable populations, including Pleasanton's residents who are currently unhoused. • Opening lines of communication, hearing feedback directly, and building legitimacy and trust with vulnerable populations. Alternative Recommendation: Instead of cancelling the July 21, 2020, regular Council meeting, the Council could host a listening session on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in the same format described above. Page 2 of 5